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The 10 Ways Marketing Will Change In 2016 : Part 1

Much like the rest of the world, marketing as an industry has seen massive year over year changes over the past half decade or so. As technology and communication take mega-leaps in shorter amounts of time than ever imagined, we have to adapt quickly to stay ahead of the effective marketing curve.

To help facilitate that, here are some of the biggest ways in which marketing will likely change in 2016.

Already a prominent trend, contentmarketing is something smart brands have latched onto over the past year or two (and some even longer). The basic premise is that content, in the form of writing, video, audio, etc., should be put out by brands.

This content veers from traditional paid advertising by making sure that it actually delivers some value or utility to the reader, rather than just being an extension of an advertisement. Brands that practice contentmarketing are continually seen as in-touch and willing to help prospects, even before they hand over their money.

2) Live-streaming

If you’re not already on Periscope or Facebook’s live video streaming platform, look into it. It is now easier than ever to incorporate live streaming events into your marketing wheelhouse, and these can be excellent ways to stay connected with customers and come across as more authentic and human as a brand.

For example, many popular figures host Q&A’s. Consider bringing on well known figures or celebrities in your market as guests for live interviews, or starting a daily series to keep followers updated on what your office is cooking up, etc.

3) The “I” will die

Simply put: communication has long been two-way, and is now all but consumer controlled. That means that switching to another brand is as easy as a couple of taps on a screen, and that leaving a hilariously tarnishing review of a company that gets retweeted 13,000 times is a reality of the landscape we live in.

For this reason, brands who aren’t on board yet will need to catch up by getting comfortable with talking with their prospects, not at them. It’s a concept that some from the old school have trouble grasping, but it will have a huge impact on how relevant your brand is perceived as.

4) Tone of voice will experience a shift

As an extension of number 3, you’ll likely witness many brands trying to come across as more ‘fun’ or ‘playful’ in their social media and public communications. Some will miss the mark awkwardly, while others will score big wins through their community interactions.

In any event, look out for a shift in what is considered appropriate fora corporate voice.

Alright, to be honest, this still might be a year or two away, but think about this: Ad networks like Google Adwords have hit a critical mass of competition, or are approaching it in many markets, where prohibitively expensive bids of $10+ per click are a reality in many industries. As such, people are getting more creative: They’re taking their dollars to social, or to content.

Eventually, older networks that have fallen out of favor will have lower bids, and those clever enough to use them and not look desperate might have an opportunity.